In addition to the download speeds of fixed broadband services released in December 2011, TRCSL has now released the first set of download speeds of 3G mobile broadband for the month of January 2011. To collect random speed test samples, four remote tests have ....

In addition to the download speeds of fixed broadband services released in December 2011, TRCSL has now released the first set of download speeds of 3G mobile broadband for the month of January 2011.

To collect random speed test samples, four remote tests have been conducted in Colombo and its suburbs. The tests were conducted for a period of twenty four hours in each location and readings from 09:00 to 00:00 were taken for the purposes of publishing.

The test readings that were obtained from the automated system have shown a significant download speed improvement in all three services. The peak time speeds in mobile broadband services (this pattern varies according to the locality) have risen by over 80% since the beginning of this benchmarking process initiated by the TRCSL. With the intention of providing a better service for mobile broadband subscribers, all three operators namely AIRTEL, DIALOG and MOBITEL are currently engaged in a network upgrading process. In this context rather than taking the entire country at once on to the testing platform, TRCSL has decided as a matter of strategy to move out gradually to other parts of the country to conduct the test.

Tests will be repeated on a random basis. This would help TRCSL to ascertain whether the operators have improved their QoS and are maintaining a consistent standard of quality service throughout the year based on the findings published by the TRCSL.

This was the first time tests were conducted in remote locations in addition to the tests carried out at the broadband monitoring unit (BMU) office at TRCSL premises. These tests will be continued and results will be published regularly at the end of each month.

TRCSL has received proposals from two fixed broadband operators to introduce FUP (Fair Usage Policy) on their unlimited broadband services together with supportive reasons. TRCSL has gathered usage details i.e. data consumption patterns, of the subscribers who use unlimited services for a variety of purposes.

TRCSL is now in the process of reviewing ISPs proposals to introduce FUP in unlimited broadband services. No approval has so far been given to any of the operators to introduce FUP onto their existing unlimited broadband services. The broadband operators are not allowed to apply FUP or any similar traffic throttling mechanism on subscriber services without obtaining prior approval from the TRCSL.